Chapin High school was treated to a day of jazz capped off by South Carolina ambassador of jazz, Skipp Pearson as a part of black history month.

Orangeburg native Pearson first showed a love for jazz in the sixth grade. Pearson had never even thought of playing an instrument until a friend named George introduced him to the saxophone. He was trying to get George to play a game of football with him when his friend convinced him to tag along on his saxophone lesson.

Pearson immediately fell in love with the saxophone and knew that playing an instrument was something he wanted to do. At the time he could not afford a new instrument, so he had to borrow George’s saxophone and mouth piece just so he could learn to play. He only had enough money to pay 50 cents for his weekly lesson. But Pearson was determined to learn to play and did not let any obstacle get in the way of his passion for music. Eventually, he would save enough money to get his own sax.

Later that year Pearson was finally able to purchase his first saxophone. It was old and used and he bought it from a friend for ten dollars. He also bought a used mouth piece for five dollars; the mouth piece had to be taped together for it to work properly but he did not let that stop him from playing.

Pearson’s love for playing music didn’t die and by the time he entered high school, he decided that he wanted to be a part of the school band. He was willing to do whatever it took to be a part of the band.

The problem was there was only one spot open- snare drum. He has spent his early years learning the sax and had no experience with percussion instruments. Pearson was determined to be a part of this band, so he taught himself how to play the drums and made the line-up. Fifty years later, Pearson is still intent on overcoming obstacles.

He is trying to keep jazz music alive for students by creating a band program for Clarendon County. He is involved in many aspects of the band from finding buses for their transportation to finding instruments for the kids to play. Jazz is something that Pearson feels very passionate about and a huge part of his life, “Jazz is music of the heart and the soul. You are not playing jazz until you get past the technology and instruments and musical technology and you are ready to speak with you voice. It’s like becoming a preacher. You learn to interpret the music by then you’re looking for your voice in the music.”

Although Pearson is referred to as Skipp, those closest to him know him as Pops because he a father-like figure to his close friends. Also, many see him as the “Pops” of jazz for South Carolina. Pops is also a nick name for another world wide famous jazz musician named Louis Armstrong. Pearson is honored to share the nickname with Louis Armstrong. He says, “I cherish that because the real Pops and I probably shared similar experiences but in a different time slot in America.”

Pearson wants to keep Jazz alive through the youth and encourages students do go after their passion and dream if they are an inspiring jazz musician,

“I encourage you to stay with what you have and learn all you can about it and if you decide to become a professional then you approach that in a way that you will be able to strive,” says Pearson. He knows achieving this dream will be hard but he believes if you stay focused it can be done. Pearson was able to teach Chapin High School students about jazz during this year’s assembly, and Chapin High School was honored to have him play for our school.